Veteran certification

Our pdf benefits booklet offers information about VA benefits at UT, and details the documents needed to apply for them.

***The Veteran Certification section of the office is currently in the process of certifying veterans and dependents for GI benefits for summer 2013.  Although students may drop off their GI or Hazlewood forms at the front counter during office hours, visiting hours for consultation is limited as follows:

                Monday, Tuesday: 10:00 AM to noon

                Wednesday, Thursday, Friday:  2:00 to 4:00 PM

Students new to the university, or using VA educational benefits or the Hazlewood exemption for the first time in fall 2013, should attend an information session in room 26 of the Main Building.

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Eligibility for veteran and dependent education benefits is determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Students considering applying to UT Austin and have general questions should contact our coordinator of student veteran services for assistance.  If you are a student at UT Austin, the Office of the Registrar can help you complete forms and certify you to the VA so you can receive benefits.

A student must be admitted to the university and registered for courses in a degree-seeking program in order to be certified for veteran's and dependent education benefits.  Please see the booklet for further information.

Each semester after registering for classes, students eligible for benefits must complete a GI questionnaire (contact the Office of the Registrar to obtain the most recent questionnaire), and email it to the Veteran Certification section of the Office of the Registrar along with the most recent award letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.  An email reminder with a GI questionnaire attachment is sent to continuing students once in April for summer and fall certification, and in October for spring certification.  If you did not receive an email, you may contact our office to request a questionnaire. A student will be certified during a semester only after he or she registers, completes a questionnaire and provides us with all required documentation. Students enrolled in a graduate program must also provide a letter from the graduate adviser confirming how their courses satisfy degree requirements. Certification of enrollment will be submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs after the official fee bill is created, and the VA takes several weeks to process that certification. Fee bills for summer 2013 are created on April 30th, and for fall 2013 on July 23rd.  It may take the Veteran Certification section fifteen business days or more from the creation of fee bills to certify students to the Department of Veterans Affairs, even if GI questionnaires requesting certification to the VA is submitted by the student much earlier. Students are certified in the order in which the GI questionnaire is received.

Post 9/11 students may submit their most recent award letter from the VA to Student Accounts Receivable in order to have their benefit coverage placed on their tuition bill.  Students must confirm attendance on My tution bill, or make a payment of any amount not covered by their benefit.  This action must be completed by payment due date in order to secure your classes. Contact Special Billing for additional information.

You may use the online forms on the GI Bill website to apply for VA benefits. Our veteran and dependent benefits booklet provides more information about VA benefits at the university, and the documents needed to apply for them. Contact our office if you have additional questions.

The nonresident portion of tuition can be waived for certain military members and their dependents. For more information about nonresident tuition waivers, contact the residency office.

Yellow Ribbon Program

UT Austin is participating in the Yellow Ribbon program for the 2012-2013 academic year. It is awarded to undergraduate students on a first-come first-serve basis. Review Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon for more information.

Hazlewood exemption

Students who qualify under the Hazlewood Act are exempted from paying tuition and required fees, provided such students are enrolled in state-funded courses. Exemption forms and guidelines are available on the College for Texans website. Admitted students may apply for Hazlewood exemption if eligible.  Hazlewood applications and supporting documents received prior to admission will not be accepted. You can find additional information here, including the Statement of Understanding that must be completed by the applicant requesting exemption for the first time at the University of Texas at Austin.

A request for exemption under Hazlewood must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar every semester. However, summer 2013, fall 2013 and spring 2014 semester Hazlewood exemption requests can be made on a single application.  All requests for Hazlewood exemption for a given semester must be received no later than the last day of finals in that semester. Those dates are available in the academic calendar. It takes up to fifteen business days to process a request for exemption provided your application packet is complete.  When your eligibility is approved by the Office of the Registrar, an exemption will be posted to your tuition bill; you must follow the prompts to complete your registration.  If the exemption is not posted by your tuition deadline, be prepared to make other arrangements for payment.

Spring 2013 Hazlewood hours used by veterans and students must be reported to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by April 30, 2013.  If you have not already requested, or have turned in an incomplete packet, you must complete your application by April 5th, 2013.  Reporting of Hazlewood hours used by the veteran will be delayed if applications are received after April 5th through the last day of finals for this semester, May 14th, 2013.

If you qualify for both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Hazlewood exemption, you may not use the Hazlewood exemption for tuition paid by the VA.  Any remaining tuition that can be exempted if you qualify will be processed after the census date; 12th class day in the fall and spring, 4th class day in the summer, and after your Post 9/11 tuition amount is finalized.

Other veteran services at the university.

In addition to services within the registrar's office, more information on UT services for veterans is available on the Dean of Students website at deanofstudents.utexas.edu/veterans.

Contact us

• Vasanth Srinivasa, VA certifying official
• Main Bldg room 1, Registrar Certification M5509 | off campus: University of Texas at Austin, Ofc of the Registrar, Certification, PO Box 7216, Austin TX 78713-7216
• certification@austin.utexas.edu
• gibill@austin.utexas.edu
• hazlewood@austin.utexas.edu
  
• fax 475-7520